Dec. 9, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. - A pair of UCF defensive backs were honored by Conference USA's coaches Tuesday, as seniors Joe Burnett (Eustis, Fla.) and Sha'reff Rashad (Jacksonville, Fla.) were both voted onto the All-C-USA First Team in a voted of the league's 12 coaches. Meanwhile, Burnett earned two more spots on the first team by being named C-USA's top punt returner and kick returner.
Burnett is the first player in Conference USA history to be named first-team all-conference in three different disciplines in the same season and is believed to be one of just two players nationally to ever do it, joining Central Michigan's Antonio Brown. Burnett became the first Knight in school history to be named on an all-conference first or second team as a punt and a kick returner.
Joining the duo on the postseason award charts, senior offensive lineman Pat Brown (St. Charles, Ill), junior defensive lineman Torrell Troup (Conyers, Ga.) and sophomore defensive lineman Bruce Miller (Canton, Ga.) each grabbed spots on the All-C-USA Second Team. Receiving honorable mention honors were sophomore linebackers Derrick Hallman (Fort Pierce, Fla.) and Lawrence Young (Pensacola, Fla.), and senior defensive backs Johnell Neal (Baton Rouge, La.) and Jason Venson (Marietta, Ga.)
For the fourth-straight season, UCF placed at least one Knight on the All-Freshman Team, where running back Brynn Harvey (Largo, Fla.) and long snapper Charley Hughlett (Tampa, Fla.) both earned the accolade in 2008.
For Burnett, he was voted as a first-team punt returner all four seasons with the Knights, and nabbed a spot on the first-team defense three times. He earned a total of eight All-C-USA recognitions in his career. He completed his career as the school's all-time leader in interceptions (16), interception return yards (262), punt return yards (1,304) and punt return touchdowns (three). In 2008, Burnett totaled four interceptions with 103 yards, had 11 pass break-ups, returned 26 punts for 378 yards and took 26 kickoffs back for 745 yards and a pair of scores.
A consistent member of the C-USA All-Academic Team, Rashad was a All-C-USA Second Team defensive back in 2007 before making the jump to the first team in 2008. The senior tied for second on the team with 72 tackles while pacing all defenders with five interceptions. Rashad finished his career in second place in career interceptions with 14 total picks.
The Conference USA office will announce its major award winners on Wednesday.
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.